THE DAILY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

Following last votes, the House is expected to continue debating amendments to H.R. 2017 into the evening.

H.Res. 287 - Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2017 - The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (Rep. Aderholt – Appropriations) (One hour of debate) The Rules committee has recommended a modified open Rule for consideration of the bill. It provides that the bill will be read by paragraph under the Rules of the House. It allows any Member to submit an amendment under the 5 minute Rule, but orders the Chair to give priority in recognition to those amendments pre-printed in the Congressional Record. It also allows pro forma amendments. The Rule allows one hour of general debate equally divided between the Chair and Ranking member of the committee on Appropriations and allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

The Rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and waives all points of order against provisions in the bill that fail to comply with clause 2 of Rule 21, except for section 536 (which deals with extending the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program).

The Rule also deems that the Republican (Ryan) Budget Resolution, which seeks to end Medicare, has passed both the House and the Senate. The Rule states that “House Concurrent Resolution 34, as adopted by the House, shall have the force and effect in the House as though Congress has adopted such concurrent resolution.” The Rule deems that the Republican Budget, and all of its committee allocations, has been passed by both the House and the Senate for budget enforcement purposes, even though the Senate resoundingly rejected the Republican Budget. Members are urged to VOTE NO.

Begin consideration of H.R. 2017 - The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (Rep. Aderholt – Appropriations) (One hour of debate) H.R. 2017 appropriates a total of $40.59 billion in discretionary funding for the Homeland Security department in FY2012, which is approximately almost a 3% cut from the current funding level and 7% below the President’s request level. In addition to cutting R&D funding by 42% compared to FY11, the legislation cuts first responder grants by almost 60% from its FY2011 appropriation, which would harm many state and local programs, and includes substantial cuts to firefighter assistance grants (the International Association of Firefighters estimates 1,600 firefighters will lose their jobs if the cuts in this bill are enacted). It also seeks to restructure how FEMA grants are awarded, placing priority on programs associated with emergencies deemed to be of the highest risk. H.R. 2017 also prohibits funding from being used to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay into the United States.

Finally, the bill also includes language dealing with immigration which would require ICE to maintain a higher minimum number of filled detention beds on a daily basis. It does not include any funding for asylum and refugee processing and immigrant integration grants.

The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Thursday, June 2: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to continue consideration of H.R. 2017 - The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Aderholt – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule).

The Daily Quote

“House Republicans are underlining their support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare reforms a week after the bitter loss of a New York congressional seat….GOP leaders on the Sunday talk shows rallied around the Ryan plan even as they acknowledged the role it played in last week’s loss of a GOP-leaning district. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said he voted for the Ryan plan, while House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said he ‘absolutely’ stood behind it….The issue is not one of Medicare alone. The GOP’s zeal for budget cuts might be increasingly leading the party toward positions that self-evidently hold some political danger.”